Device for assembling shoe components

ABSTRACT

This method consists in placing the upper fitted on a last inside a frame of which the inner face corresponds exactly in shape to the contour of a shoe upper and leaves uncovered only the marginal assembling portion of the upper which is to be coated with cement. The inner face has a groove adapted to receive the peripheral portion of the sole to be cemented to the upper. Cement is applied at least to the marginal assembling portion or the proper face of the sole, and the sole is pressed against the upper after the sole has been introduced into said frame until its outer peripheral edge has engaged said groove in order to obtain a proper positioning (registration) of said sole in relation to said upper.

United States Patent [1 1 Barre [451 Dec. 31, 1974 DEVICE FOR ASSEMBLING SHOE [73] Assignee: Centre Technique Du Cuir, Lyon,

France [22] Filed: Mar. 26, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 345,218

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 31, 1972 France 72.12192 [52] US. Cl. 12/1 F [51] Int. Cl. A43d [58] Field of Search 12/1 R, 1 F, 1 W, 142 R, 12/142 RS [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,052,903 9/1962 La Rose 12/142 RS 3,247,537 4/1966 Winkler 12/1 F 3,670,350 6/1972 Kaufman 12/142 RS Primary E.raminerPatrick D. Lawson Attorney, Agent, or FirmKarl F. Ross; Herbert Dubno [57] ABSTRACT This method consists in placing the upper fitted on a last inside a frame of which the inner face corresponds exactly in shape to the contour of a shoe upper and leaves uncovered only the marginal assembling portion of the upper which is to be coated with cement. The inner face has a groove adapted to receive the peripheral portion of the sole to be cemented to the upper. Cement is applied at least to the marginal assembling portion or the proper face of the sole, and the sole is pressed against the upper after the sole has been introduced into said frame until its outer peripheral edge has engaged said groove in order to obtain a proper positioning (registration) of said sole in rela tion to said upper.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEB 3,857. 129

sum 2 or 2 DEVICE FOR ASSEMBLING SHOE COMPONENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with a device for assembling automatically soles and uppers in the manufacture of shoes.

The oldest method utilized for assembling shoe soles and uppers consisted in sewing the sole to the upper; this procedure requires highly skilled workers and it is known that such labor is becoming increasingly scarce.

To cope with this situation, shoe manufacturers have been led to utilize increasingly the technique of cementing soles and uppers, which is considerably simpler and can be carried out by unskilled workers; however, the personnel required for such an operation is somewhat more numerous. Besides, this technique, although applicable to most currently used materials, requires much care, especially in preparing, gluing and positioning the parts to be assembled, if it is desired to avoid cement smudges and burrs in the finished product while obtaining a strong assembly.

Moreover, this cementing technique is objectionable on account of the relatively long time required for drying the cements or adhesives, so that the lasts are occupied well beyond the time actually required for the manufacture; consequently, the manufacturer must increase considerably the number of lasts available for making a given range of shoes.

Other methods consist in molding the soles over the upper by vulcanization, injection or casting.

In the vulcanization process, only leather brands which have undergone a special preliminary treatment, can be used. In the injection-molding technique the mold necessary therefor are particularly expensive and the cost thereof can be recovered only after a relatively large number of shoes have been manufactured therewith and this is obviously inconsistent with continuous evolution and change in shoe fashions.

Finally, the molding of soles over the uppers by the so-called casting method is attended by serious problems since a chemical reaction is produced and must be controlled at all times, irrespective of the quantities, metering proportions. temperatures, pressures, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the essential object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which avoids all these inconveniences. To this end, the method contemplated herein consists in fitting the upper on the relevant last, disposing this assembly inside a frame of which the inner surface outline corresponds exactly to the contour of said assembly while leaving uncovered only the assembling marginal portion, i.e., the portion to be cemented of the upper, the frame comprises a groove adapted to receive the peripheral portion of the sole to be cemented to said upper. A suitable cement or adhesive is applied at least to the assembling marginal upper-engaging portion or the surface of the sole, the sole is pressed against the upper after the sole has been fitted into the frame until its peripheral marginal portion has engaged said groove in order to obtain a perfect positioning (registration) of the sole.

It is clear that the use of this method will simplify considerably the cementing and positioning operations since it substantially eliminates any faulty movements.

Moreover, it will be readily apparent to those conversant with the art that by using the frame as a guide it is possible to apply cement or adhesive mechanically and automatically along the marginal assembling portion of the upper.

The adhesive materials or cements to be used for carrying out the method of this invention may be of the solvent type as currently employed in shoe manufacture, but since the risk of cement smudging or guttering is substantially eliminated by the use of a frame acting at the same time as a mask, liquid cements without any solvent may advantageously be used, for example cements comprising at least two components of the poly urethane or like type, the setting of which is caused by a nearly instantaneous chemical reaction instead of by the evaporation of a solvent.

Cements or like adhesives of the same type, of which the component elements are mixed together beforehand, may also be used, one of these component elements being chemically blocked to a neutral state, and adapted to be released for example through the action of heat in order to produce the setting reaction.

The device for carrying out this method comprises essentially a substantially rectangular frame having its inner face shaped with a view to correspond exactly to the peripheral contour of the upper; more particularly, this inner contour of the frame corresponds to the marginal portion of the last and comprises along the edge of its upper-engaging portion a peripheral groove adapted to receive the edge of the sole to be pressed against said upper. The frame has at least two detachable elements permitting the proper positioning of the upper before fitting the sole, and its removal after this fitting, and means for supporting the last and upper during the fitting of the sole.

Advantageously, the inner face of the frame which is adapted to accommodate the upper contour consists of, or is lined with, a flexible or soft material moldable on the shoe model to be obtained.

This later may consist, for example, of a silicone casting elastomer.

Preferably, in order to derive the pressure necessary for pressing the sole against the upper, a movable plate engageable in the frame down to the level to be attained by the sole after its application against the sole is associated with said frame, the sole-engaging face of said plate being formed with an impression corresponding to the contour and shape of said sole.

Like, the frame, the portion of said movable plate which carries the sole impression consists of flexible or soft material adapted to be molded from the original model, such as a silicone casting elastomer.

According to an advantageous arrangement characterising this invention, the inner flexible wall of said frame and the flexible portion of said movable plate which comprises said sole impression are detachably connected to said frame and said movable plate, respectively.

With this arrangement various types of shoes or different shoe sizes may be produced by using a single frame and movable plate assembly, so that only the flexible portions are to be kept in amounts corresponding to the range of shoes to be made.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The device illustrated in the drawing is intended for fitting a sole 2 to an upper 3 fitted in turn to its last 4.

This device comprises essentially a horizontal frame 5 and a movable plate 6. The frame 5 has a rectangular outer contour and comprises a pair of symmetric members each carried by a pair of legs 7 pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis 8 to a base plate 9. This base plate 9 further carries a pair of cylinders or like actuators ll, of the screw or similar type, for supporting the last 4 and the upper 3 in the desired position during the operation consisting in fitting the sole 2 to said upper. The inner face of frame 5 has a contour matching that of the upper 3 so that the marginal portion m to be coated with cement or other adhesive substante prior to the assembling of said upper with the sole 2 is left uncovered.

Preferably, the inner face of frame 5 consists of moldable flexible or soft material 13, obtained for example by molding on a shoe model of the type for which the device is intended. This flexible material may consist for instance of silicone casting elastomer.

The movable plate 6 is carried by the depending rod of an actuator 14 supported by the cross member 16 of the strap-forming support of which the vertical uprights 17 are secured to the base plate 9 on either side of said frame 5. This movable plate 6 carries on its face facing the frame 5, i.e., its lower face, an impression l8 corresponding to the shape to be assumed by the sole 2 when assembled with the upper 3. This plate 6, movable by means of said actuator 14 towards the upper 3 after the latter has been disposed inside the frame 5 as shown in the drawing, is adapted to exert on the lower face of sole 2 the pressure necessary for cementing this sole to the upper 3.

Advantageously, the impression 18 carried by said plate 6 is formed in a flexible and moldable material 19 like the flexible material 13 of frame 5.

In operation, the lateral elements constituting the frame 5 of the above-described device are tilted in the direction of the arrows 21 (FIG. 2) and the upper 3 carried by its last 4 is disposed upon the cylinders 11; then these cylinders 11 are adjusted in such a manner that when the frame 5 is reclosed the upper 3 has its ideal position within the frame 5 of which the inner wall 13 is shaped to accomodate the contour of the upper 3. The assembling marginal portion m, which is the only portion of said upper 3 that remains uncovered within the frame 5, is then coated with cement, together, if desired, with the sole 2. It may be noted that the flexible wall 13 of frame 5 acts as a mask with respect to the upper 3, thus eliminating any risk of causing smudging or guttering of the cement or like adhesive product.

The sole 2 is then fitted inside the flexible wall 13 of frame 5, and held by this flexible wall in the intermediate position illustrated in FIG. 2, the actuator 14 is subsequently operated for producing the complete downward stroke of the plate 6 supporting the impression 19. Thus, the sole 2 is pressed with an adjustable force by the means energizing said actuator 14 against the upper 3 of which the marginal assembling portion m has been coated with adhesive or cement. Upon completion of the stroke of plate 6, the edges of sole 2 are engaged in the groove 12 of wall 13 of frame 5, thus ensuring a proper positioning of the sole 2.

In a modified form of embodiment the plate 6 could be provided with means for gripping the sole 2 and positioning the latter on the upper 3, previous to its application under pressure thereagainst.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in their contact areas the flexible wall 13 and frame 5 comprise a shoulder providing an axial coupling therebetween in the downward direction. With this arrangement it is possible to retract the wall 13 and to replace same with a wall of a different type or model, thus avoiding the use ofa large number of frames 5, i.e., as many frames as there are shoe models and shoe sizes of each model. Similarly, the flexible portion 19 carrying the impression 18 may be detachably connected to the plate 6. Thus the storage conditions of these elements are improved, since only the flexible portions 13 and 19 have to be kept in stock.

In the foregoing it is explained that the inner wall 13 of frame 5 matches exactly the outer contour of upper 3 except for the assembling marginal portion In thereof, so that any risk of cement guttering was substantially eliminated. Therefore, this device permits the use of very liquid cements or like adhesive substances, especially notably those adapted to set by rapid chemical reaction instead of by a slow solvent evaporation. Thus, the time necessary for safely cementing the sole to the upper may be reduced considerably, so that the last on which the upper is fitted can be removed after a short time during this cementing operation.

What I claim as new is:

1. An apparatus for automatically assembling a sole and an upper of a shoe, comprising:

a substantially rectangular frame having an inner face with an outline accommodating exactly the outer periphery of of said upper along a marginal assembling portion thereof, said inner face being formed with a peripheral groove adapted to receive the edge of a sole to be applied to said upper; means supporting a last within said frame; and means for supporting said sole within said frame,

the inner face of said frame being composed of flexible soft material moldable to the configuration of a shoe to be formed. 2. An apparatus for automatically assembling a sole and an upper of a shoe, comprising:

a substantially rectangular frame having an inner face with an outline accommodating exactly the outer periphery of said upper along a marginal assembling portion thereof, said inner face being formed with a peripheral groove adapted to receive the edge of a sole to be applied to said upper; means supporting a last within said frame; and means for supporting said sole within said frame,

said means for supporting said sole includes a vertically movable plate disposed above said frame and having a contour corresponding to that of said sole.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said plate is composed at least in part of a soft moldable material.

4. A device for automatically assembling soles and uppers of shoes whereby the sole is cemented to the upper, said device comprising a substantially rectangular frame having an outline exactly accommodating the outer periphery of an upper surrounding the portion thereof to be coated with cement; means for supporting an upper within said outline wherein portions of said upper surrounding the portions to be coated with cement are fully masked by said inner face; means for pressing a sole against an upper supported within said inner face, said inner face being formed with a peripheral groove adapted to receive the edge of said sole,

said frame being formed of at least two detachable elements permitting the positioning of said upper and said sole in said outer face.

5. The device defined in claim 4 wherein said inner face consists of flexible soft material molded to conform to a model of the shoe to be made therein.

6. The device defined in claim 5 wherein said means for pressing said sole against said upper includes a movable plate having a contour corresponding to the shape of the sole to be formed on the shoe.

7. The device defined in claim 6 wherein said plate is formed with said contour in a flexible soft material molded on said model.

8. The device defined in claim 7 wherein said material is detachably mounted on said frame and said plate respectively. 

1. An apparatus for automatically assembling a sole and an upper of a shoe, comprising: a substantially rectangular frame having an inner face with an outline accommodating exactly the outer periphery of of said upper along a marginal assembling portion thereof, said inner face being formed with a peripheral groove adapted to receive the edge of a sole to be applied to said upper; means supporting a last within said frame; and means for supporting said sole within said frame, the inner face of said frame being composed of flexible soft material moldable to the configuration of a shoe to be formed.
 2. An apparatus for automatically assembling a sole and an upper of a shoe, comprising: a substantially rectangular frame having an inner face with an outline accommodating exactly the outer periphery of said upper along a marginal assembling portion thereof, said inner face being formed with a peripheral groove adapted to receive the edge of a sole to be applied to said upper; means supporting a last within said frame; and means for supporting said sole within said frame, said means for supporting said sole includes a vertically movable plate disposed above said frame and having a contour corresponding to that of said sole.
 3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said plate is composed at least in part of a soft moldable material.
 4. A device for automatically assembling soles and uppers of shoes whereby the sole is cemented to the upper, said device comprising a substantially rectangular frame having an outline exactly accommodating the outer periphery of an upper surrounding the portion thereof to be coated with cement; means for supporting an upper within said outline wherein portions of said upper surrounding the portions to be coated with cement are fully masked by said inner face; means for pressing a sole against an upper supported within said inner face, said inner face being formed with a peripheral groove adapted to receive the edge of said sole, said frame being formed of at least two detachable elements permitting the positioning of said upper and said sole in said outer face.
 5. The device defined in claim 4 wherein said inner face consists of flexible soft material molded to conform to a model of the shoe to be made therein.
 6. The device defined in claim 5 wherein said means for pressing said sole against said upper includes a movable plate having a contour corresponding to the shape of the sole to be formed on the shoe.
 7. The device defined in claim 6 wherein said plate is formed with said contour in a flexible soft material molded on said model.
 8. The device defined in claim 7 wherein said material is detachably mounted on said frame and said plate respectively. 